Dear Vancouver Coastal Health (VCH) and Family Services of Greater Vancouver (FSGV),

We write as deeply concerned community members from a large array of backgrounds, all of whom know the importance of life-saving support for youth withdrawing from substances, such as Direction’s Youth Detox (DYD). We urge VCH to maintain its funding rather than willfully and rapidly facilitate the detox’s closure. We write with deep empathy for all the youth who will fall through the cracks if DYD shuts down, as it's the only one of its kind in Vancouver. We reject VCH’s vague “offer” of an alternative and demand concrete, evidence-backed answers as to what this new model is and how exactly it will better meet the urgent needs of the community amidst a poisoned drug supply. We want:

Accountability: In a statement emailed to CBC, VCH states that Direction's social detox model “doesn’t align with addiction-treatment guidelines from the Ministry of Health and B.C. Centre for Substance Use, but the health authority doesn’t elaborate much further. Ironically enough, a major reason why Directions wasn’t able to operate a medical detox was due to a lack of VCH funding for 24 hr nurses. A medical detox simply means there is constant supervision equipped to handle the possibly deathly side-effects of coming off of benzos and/or alcohol. Notably so, many street drugs are cut with benzos and there is a dire need for more medical detoxes. The only one in Vancouver (Vancouver Detox) has a 2 month waitlist and one must be over 18 to go.

However, there is still incredible value to a social detox, as it remains a safe place where people can withdraw from a huge number of substances. There are also unique benefits. Direction’s detox is located in a residential setting removed from the Downtown Eastside (helpful for those wanting to step away from this environment). It is a house rather than a medical facility making it less likely for youth to be pathologized while still having access to supportive staff (most with lived experience), if needed. Word of mouth from other street-entrenched youth built up the solid reputation of this spot, as was its quicker intake process, one connected to the drop-in and youth safehouses Directions also runs.

Transparency: It is vital we know who was at the table when the decision to close Direction’s Youth Detox was made, particularly if youth who currently access and/or have accessed the resource during its 30 year history were consulted. A joint letter from VCH and FSGV states that "as a result of a comprehensive needs-based assessment and consultation with youth and families, along with new guidelines and practices, VCH will be redesigning withdrawal management services for youth,” but we aren't really given any other information beyond these buzzwords. When did these consultations happen? How were youth made aware? Was anyone able to weigh in?

Additionally, the majority of treatment centres require participants to have already partook in detox programs, making the closure of Direction’s Youth Detox a massive barrier for youth to access further recovery services, on top of already challenging long wait times and unnecessarily bureaucratic intake processes. VCH’s “alternative” model is set to start operating only a few days before the closure of the Youth Detox is also harmful, as youth likely won’t even be aware of its presence let alone trust it. It is horrifying to think of youth having the bravery to take the first step to reducing usage only to be told their detox no longer exists. VCH’s new model mentions “home-based care,” but for the many youth staying in shelters, couch-surfing, sleeping outside, in unsafe home environments or other precarious living environments, this simply isn’t applicable. VCH also states that  “it expects no gaps in service,” a confusing point due to the reduction in bed spaces.

We are firm believers in services improving and modifying themselves to better meet the needs of those accessing them, yet are very concerned this isn’t what happened with VCH and FSGV’s announcement. We refuse to believe closing Direction’s Youth Detox entirely is the answer unless further details are provided about VCH’s “new withdrawal management program,” including evidence for its proposed effectiveness and proof that impacted youth were part of the conversation.

Sincerely,